Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. KROUPA.

I GAR COUPLING.

No. 380,684. Patented Apr. 10,1888.

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MP M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH KROUPA, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,684, dated April 10, 1888.

Application filed December 6, 1887. Serial No. 257,072. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPH KROUPA, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This i nvention relates to car-coupli ngs which automatically couple the cars when they are run together,and by which the cars can be uncoupled from either side without the attendant or brakemau going between them.

The object of the invention is to simplify the coupling mechanism and to have the parts arranged in as compact form as possible and readily accessible for repairs.

The improvement consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, which will be more fully hereinafterset forth and claimed, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a carcoupling embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section on the line XX of Fig. 1, showing the operation of the coupling-latch by dotted lines; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line Y Y of Fig. 2.

The draw-bar is made in two parts, A and A, which are separable on the line Y Y of Fig. 2, and are secured together by bolts passing through corresponding lugs, a and a, near the inner end of the draw-bar and by the keeper A embracing the draw-bar on three sides and bolted at its ends to the platform or plate A The lower part or half, A, has the recess B, which forms the throat, and the recess G in the rear of the throat, in which the head d of the lock-bar D is free to slide back and forth. The side walls of the throat converge or curve inward at their inner ends, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, and the opening 6, formed through the lower side, extends through the solid portion 1) to form a narrow channel between throat B and recess 0 to permit the coupling-latch E, pivoted in opening b, to swing back. From recess 0 a groove,

e extends rearwardly and forms a seat for the lock-bar D, which is free to slide back and forth therein and is held projected by the spring F, placed in the groove and interposed between the lock-bar and the stop G, which stop is secured in the groove by having its annular flange g fitting in recesses g in each half of the draw-bar.

The lock-bar and head d are preferably detachable and are held together by a rib at the end of one part fitting in a corresponding groove near the end of the other part. In the eventof the head becoming worn or broken, it can readily be detached from the lock-bar by removing the plate D, which closes one side of the recess 0, andsliding it out laterally through the opening thus formed. When a new head is slipped in position, the plate D is replaced and fastened by having its inner end, which is beveled, fitting in the undercut rabbet d and having the screw d passing through its outer end. The lock-bar has a recess, d at its inner end, into which the end of the uncouplingarmfprojects. This armfis fastened to the rock-shaftf, mounted in the bracketsf and having its ends bent at right angles to form the levers f for operating the rock-shaft for uncoupling the cars.

The coupling-latch E, composed of the vertical bar 6 and the horizontal arms 6 and c, has its end extendedbeyoud arm (2 asufficient distance to be engaged by the lock-bar D. A longitudinal groove, I, is formed in the half A, and two gravity-bars, J and K, are located in this groove and mounted upon the pivot L. The bar K is shorter than bar J, and has a shoulder, 76, which interlocks with bar J and limits the movement of one bar relative to the other.

\Vhen the link M is thrust in the throat of the draw-bar, as when two cars are run together, it comes between the two arms 6 and c of the coupling-latch, and turns the said latch on its pivot until the arms e and e are in a nearly vertical and the bar 6 in a nearly hori zontal position. The end of the link will be held between the two arms 6 and e', and the lockbar springing over the end of the bar 6 will hold the latch from turning back until the lockbar is slid back when uncoupling the cars.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with the draw-bar hav-' ing a recess in the rear of its throat and the coupling-latch, of the lock-bar, the lock-bar head, the ribs and grooves for holding the head and bar against longitudinal displacement, and the removable plate for disclosing an opening into the said recess, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the draw-bar, the coupling-latch, the lock-bar, the stop, the spring interposed between the stop and the lock-bar, the rock-shaft having levers at its ends, and the arm secured at one end to the rock-shaft and having its other end engaging with the lock-bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the draw-bar, the coupling-latch composed of a vertical bar and 20 two horizontal arms, the vertical bar being extended below the arms, and the lock-bar for engaging with said extension, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the draw-bar, the 2 5 coupling-latch, the lock-bar, and the uncoupling mechanism, of the gravity-bars mounted on a common pivot and having an interlocking shoulder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 0 presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH KROUPA.

\Vitnesses:

BENJ. A. SUPPAN, W. DE CAEN. 

